Translation of the Chofetz Chaim's Sefer Shmiras HaLashon. This site is dedicated to the improvement of the speech of members of Bnei Yisrael. To help avoid all sorts of troubles, learn Shmiras HaLashon - "One who guards his mouth and his tongue guards from troubles of his soul." (Mishlei: 21; 23)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

[The following] is the text of “Sefer HaPardeis” of our teacher, the rabbi, Rabbi Moshe Cordevaro, [this teaching being found in the] “Gate of Sanctuaries” – “שער היכלות”, [in the] second chapter[1], [as follows]: “Above, [in Heaven], one of the four holy Chayos is Yofiel, the Minister of Torah, and all of the keys of wisdom are in his possession. Once the soul rises and arrives Above, [in Heaven, after passing away], this Minister queries it concerning the wisdom that it learned in this world, and in accordance with the degree which [the person] toiled in Torah and pursued it, he will be given [his] reward. If he was able to involve himself in more Torah [study], and [nevertheless] did not involve himself [in more Torah study, his soul] is pushed to the bottom, in embarrassment and shame, below that sanctuary. Once the Siraphim below the Chayah, raise [their] wings, and touch [wing] one to another, they burn that soul, it being burned and it is not [completely] consumed… In such a manner [is that soul that was idle from Torah study] judged every day, regardless of whether it possesses good deeds, for it was not involved in Torah [study to a] fitting [degree].”

Therefore, [in light of the above teaching], the hearty [individual] must contemplate [the above] all of the days of his life, as it is written in “Tanna D’Vei Eliyahu”[2], [as follows]: “A person should see to it that he will grasp in his hand that which he learned in order that embarrassment and shame will not evertake him on The Day of Judgment, at [which] time that they will say [to him], “Stand up and set [before us the] scriptures you have read and the Mishna that you have learned.”]